John Madden’s impact on the video game world

Although John Madden, who died in December at the age of 85, was widely known for his coaching prowess and television commentary, he left an indelible mark on the video game world when he first agreed to lend his name to the “John Madden Football” game in the 1980s.

Over the following three decades, the Madden franchise generated billions of dollars in revenue and remains a crucial title for Electronic Arts, now one of the largest gaming companies in the world.

YouGov data shows the Madden NFL series is the most popular sports title among nearly all major sports fan groups, from football to hockey.

It’s worth noting that in many of these groups, the corresponding game title comes in close second. For instance, 9% of America’s basketball fans have played the Madden series over the last year, while 8% have played an entry in the NBA 2K franchise (4% have played NBA Live, which has been on hiatus since its 2019 entry).

Among other groups, the Madden series has a more commanding lead. Data reveals 11% of mixed martial arts (MMA) fans have played the NFL video game franchise, while 6% have picked up one of EA’s UFC titles.

Soccer fans are the only group for whom Madden is not more popular than the video game version of their own sport. Data shows 15% of soccer fans have played FIFA, marking the highest rate of fans playing the video game version of their favorite sport. This comes as little surprise, given the longstanding popularity of the FIFA franchise. The second most popular video game sports title among this group is – you guessed it – Madden, at 7%, tied with the NBA 2K franchise.

“John Madden was synonymous with the sport of football for more than 50 years,” EA said in a statement following his death. “His knowledge of the game was second only to his love for it, and his appreciation for everyone that ever stepped on the gridiron.”

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Methodology: YouGov Profiles is based on continuously collected data and rolling surveys, rather than from a single limited questionnaire. Profiles data is nationally representative and weighted by age, gender, education, region, and race. Learn more about Profiles.